Investigation of the effects of Sufivand- manganese mine in Hersin County on soil and physiological characteristics of Astragalus parrowianus

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Sufivand-manganese mine (located in Harsin city of Kermanshah province), on some soil characteristics, plant growth and some physiological traits of yellow milk-vetch (Astragalus parrowianus). Soil and plant samples of natural rangeland were taken in May around Sufivand mine at different distances namely in  the 100,500.1000,1500 and 2000 meters far from the mine respectively The statistical design of this project was performed based on a systematic random methodology in the five concentric circles around the Manganese mine. Six samples of soil and Astaragalus plant outside of manganese mine boundary (was not affected by mine) with the same edaphic and topographic conditions were sampled as a control treatment. The results of this project indicated that measured some physiological properties and plant growth were significantly affected by the distance from the Manganese mine. Hence, the maximum rate of root weight to canopy weight (0.85), transfer factor (1.9),    root density factor (4) and proline content (0.8 μmol / g) were significantly observed at (p 0.05) compared to the control treatment at a distance of 100 meters from the mine. The minimum stem length (12 cm), total nitrogen content (3%), essential oil content (0.2%), catalase activity (0.45 Units/mg) and peroxidase activity (0.2 Units/mg) at 100 meters distance from the mine were significantly different from the control at (p 0.05). It is concluded that the closer distance to the mine the more hazard of manganese to the Rangeland plants.